Muhyiddin warns Malays of foreign threats

The Umno annual general assembly kicked off today with deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin's providing the usual dose of racial and religious rhetoric, peppered with warnings about new external threats.

In his address to officiate the AGM for the Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings today, Muhyiddin spoke extensively about the need to prepare the Malays for 2020 - the year where current administration hopes Malaysia will be declared a developed country.

But unlike Muhyiddin's previous addresses, the opposition was less of a target compared to external threats such as the spread of deviationist Islamic teachings and Western liberal democracy.

He referred to reports by influential US-based thinktank Freedom House, which claimed that Malaysia was a "partly free" in terms of political freedoms.

"What is the intention that they accuse us of not being democratic?

"Is it that by claiming Malaysia is not a democratic country they hope we will take action to supposedly become more democratic including abolishing Malay and Bumiputera special privileges, allowing limitless religious freedom, abolishing the royal institution to become a republic and others?"

Freedom is not absolute

He claimed that there were opposition parties and interest groups that are trying to propagate such western values, such as the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs (Comango) which had gone to the United Nations to pressure Malaysia to comply with universal human rights.

"I ask the delegates in this room, are we willing to let foreigners to force us into accepting the concept of freedom that is against our religion?" he said.

Another threat Muhyiddin raised without specifically mentioning names was the Syiah school of Islam, the dominant school of thought in Iran and Iraq, which has of late been under increased scrutiny from the religious authorities in Malaysia.

Muhyiddin went so far as to suggest that the Federal Constitution be amended to ensure that all Muslims in the country are defined as followers of the Sunni school of thought.

"To ensure that the teachings of Ahli Sunnah wal Jamaah is safeguarded, I propose a guarantee that the teachings of Ali Sunnah wal Jammah as the faith of Muslims in this country be included in the Federal Constitution," he said.

Six years left

Having framed the many foreign enemies of Malay Muslims, Muhyiddin described Umno as their protector and benefactor.

He touted the Bumiputera Economic Empowerment (BEE) scheme announced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and urged the Malay community to actively participate in the programme.

He also urged the party wings to ensure the successful implementation of the BEE scheme.

"We have put Malaysia on track to a developed nation in 2020. We only have six years left. Time is against us.

"What meaning is there for the country to become developed if Malays and bumiputeras do not get a fair share of the economy?" he said.

Muhyiddin reiterated the party's commitment that the Umno will defend Islam as the official religion and the special privileges of the bumiputera community but said that they will be balanced with the rights of other communities.

"Not all the balancing in the Federal Constitution is in line with western values but we do not need to be apologetic because these principles are important to ensure the harmony among races and religions in this country," he said.

Reclaiming the urban votes

Aside from the parochial, Muhyiddin urged the party to meet the basic needs of the Malay community particularly among youths and urbanites.

"Umno manged to increase its parliamentary seats but BN suffered losses especially among youth and urban voters... the number of seats won in Umno strongholds of Johor and Malacca were also reduced.

"Umno must understand the message sent by voters. We need to honestly and sincerely find out the reasons why urban voters and youths are not with us at the level we want," he said.

He added that Umno will not be drowned by the waves of change and will seek out new approaches while still steadfastly defending its traditional struggle of race and religion.